Elevating truck



March 13, 1928. s 1,662,604

H. S. GERMOND, JR

ELEVATING TRUCK Filed May 5, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS March '13,1928. 1,662,604

H. S. GERMOND, JR

ELEVATING TRUCK Filed May 5, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS PatentedMar. 13, 1928.

HENRY s. GERM ND, JR, or BAYONNE, NEW messy.

ELEVATING TRUCK.

Application filed May 5,

This invention relates in general to elevatingtrucks of the typeincluding a main frame mounted on wheels and adapted to be moved aboutand steered by a draft handle and pushed beneath a load which is to betransported, said main frame carrying an elevating plat-form adapted tobe raised by swinging of the draft handle in a vertical plane to elevatethe load from the floor.

hilore particularly, the invention relates to that type of elevatingtrunks including a member movable substantially vertically in orparallel to the axis of'swive'l of the steering wheels, said memberbeing adapted to be so connected to the draft handle as to elevate theplatform by swinging of the handle in vertical planes with the handle inany of the usual steering positions at angles to the longitudinal medianline of the truck.

One object of the invention is to provide a truck of the characterdescribed ei'nbodying a novel and improved actuating mechanism forraising said platform by means of said draft handle including a membervertically movable substantially in the line of axis of the steeringswivel and connected to said draft handle, and means for connecting saidvertically movable member to said platform to raise the latter whilesaid handle is in any usual steering position.

Another object of the invention is to pro- I vide a device of thecharacter described embodying novel and improved features ofconstruction whereby descent of the elevating platform cannot take placeuntil said vertically movable member has been disconnected from saidplatform, so as to prevent possibility of the handle being accidentallyforcibly swung upwardly by descent of the platform and injuring theoperator.

Other objects are to provide in an elevating truck of the characterdescribed novel and improved manually operated means for connecting anddisconnecting the platform to and from said vertically movable member;to provide means whereby said platform can be connected to ordisconnected from said vertically movable member while the ban die is inany of the usual steering positions; to provide a simple, inexpensiveand reliable construction, and to obtain other results and advantages asmay be brought out by the following description.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

1926. Serial No. 106,858.

in which corresponding and like parts are designated throughout theseveral views by the same reference characters, 7

Figure 1 isa side elevation of an elevating truck embodying theinvention, showing the elevating platform in its normal loweredposition; i v

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of a front end .of the truck,showing the elevating platform arranged in its uppermost position;Figure 3 is of the truck, showing the manner of elevating the platformfrom one side of the truck, and a 1 Figure 4 is a fragmentary top planview of the front end of the trucl g In the specific embodiment of theinventionshown on the drawings, the reference character A designates theframe of the truck which may be of any suitable construction and ismounted at the rear end on wheels 1 journaled .on a transverse shaft 2(see Fig. 1) The forward end of the frame A is provided substantiallycentrally of its width with a king pin 3 revolubly journaled in theframe and carrying at its lower end a pair of steering wheels 4, thisconstruction enabling the truck to be steered by rotation of the kingpin i d An elevating and load sustaining platform B is mounted on theframeA in such a manner that the truck may be pushed b cneath aloadwhich is spaced from the floor by means of skids, the said platformbeing adapted to'be elevated on the frame A to raise the load from thefloor onto the truck. Any suitable means may be utilized for so mountingthe platform on the same, but in the present instance a pair of parallellinks 5 is shown as pivotally connected between the frame A and theplatform B at each end so that forward motion of the platform causesoscillation of the parallel links 5 which in turn raises the platform onthe main frame. construction is old and well-known, and no claimtonovelt-y is based thereon.

For the purpose of drawing the truck from place to place and steeringthe same, the king pin 3 may have secured thereto a bracket 6 formedwith two upwardly projecting spaced ears 7 between which is pivotallymounted between its ends on a pin 8 All of the above-mentioned 1 a I 05an elevation of the front end a draft handle 9, said handle beingadapted to swing about its pivot 8 in vertical planes and to revolve theking pin 3 by swinging of the handle in horizontal planes so as to steerthe truck. The handle is provided at one end with handholds for drawingthe truck and said handle is also adapted to be operatively connectedwith the platform B to draw the same forwardly so as to oscillate thelinks 5 and elevate the platform.

A sleeve 11 is slidably mounted on the king pin 3 above the frame A. andis provided at its lower end with a substantially semi-circular flange12 having an upwardly facing groove 120 to cooperate with a hooked end13 on one end of a link 14*. pivot-ally connected at its other end tothe foward end of the platform 13. The end of the d aft handle oppositethe handholds is pivotally connected as at 15 to one end of a link 16the other end of which is pivotally connected to an ear 17 on the upperend of the sleeve 11. The link 14 may be connected to the forward end ofthe platform in any suitable manner, but in the present instance I haveshown the link connected to the front side of a skid stop 18 which formsthe forward end of the platform B and is adapted to engage a skid tolimit the movement of the truck beneath the skid bearing a load which itis desired to elevate and transport by the truck.

\Vhen the platform B is in its normal lowermost position, the link 14 isswung rearwardly into a substantially vertical position against the skidstop 18, as shown by solid lines in Figure 1, and in this position thehandle 9 is free for drawing and steerin the truck. I \Vhen it isdesired to elevate the platform 13, the handle 5) is swung upwardly intoa substantially vertical position, as shown in Figure 1. which lowersthe sleeve 1.1 to the top of the frame it after which the link 14 ismanually swung for wardly, for instance by the foot of the operator, sothat the hook 1 3 lies in the groove 120 of the sleeve. The handle 9 isthen swung dowuiwardly in a vertical plane as indicated by Figure 2,whereby the sleeve 11 is raised upon the king pin 3 and the platform Bpulled forwardly and elevated by oscillation of the links 5.

Any suitable means may be employed for holding the elevating platform inits uppermost position. but in the present instance I have shown theforward end of the platform B provided with a rearwardly facing lug 11)adapted to be engaged by the head of a latch lever 21 pivotally mountedintermediate its ends as at on the forward end of the main frame A. Thelatch lever 21 is normally influenced into the path of the lug 19 bymeans of a spring 23, and as the platform B rises, the lug 19 slipsbeneath the head 20 of the lever 21, which then engages the rear face ofthe lug to hold the platform against rearward movement and descent. Theplatform is shown in its uppermost position in Figure 1 of the drawingsand may be steered under ordinary conditions without throwing the linkl'all'wardly. due to the lateral play between the groove 1'20 and hook13. After the platform has been raised to this position and it isdesired to lower the platform. it is advisable to disconnect the link 14from the sleeve It. and this disconnection is readily accomplished byswinging the handle 9 iujnvardly into the position shown in Figure 1.and then pushing the link rmlrwardly into contact with the skid r-top18. To release the platform the forward end of the latch lever 21 isprovided with a t'readle Q-l which may be depressed by the operator soas to disengage the head 53!) of the lever from the lug 1t) whereuponthe platform descends by action of gravity. Any known means, such as adash-pot construction, may be utilized to retard the drscent f theplatform.

For preventing operation of the latch lever 21 and descent of theplatform ll until the link H- has been completely disconnecn-d from thehandle 1), whereby the possibility of the handle being forcibly swungupwardly by descent of the platform in such a manner as to injure theoperator, is obviated. I may provide a gravity actuated pawl 25pivotally connected at one cud 2G to the forward end of the platform ii.for instance to the skid stop 18, above the lug 1.9, the lower end ofsaid pawl being normally positioned by action of gravity to c11 gage thetop of the head 20 of the latch lever 21 when the platform is in itsuppermost position and the link l-l connected to the handle 9. The pawl2.3 is shown in (u'ierative relation to the lever 31. in Figure 2. andit will be obvious that with the pawl in this position the lever-'21cannot be oscil lured by pressure on the trcadlc Lil.

'lo automatically release the lever 21 when the link 14- is disconnectedfrom the handle 9. 1 may provide the link It with a laterally projectinglug 27 adapted to t'ngug a similar lug 2%; on the adjacent side of thepawl 27 so that as the link l-l falls l't'tll'\\';lltll to itslllOPLl'tlllVC position. the lug '37 engages the log 25' and swings thepawl .25 rearwardly out of engagement with the latch lever 21 as shownin Figure l. \Vith the pawl 25 in this position. the latch lever 21 maybe freely operated so as to permit. descent of the platform B. but it;will be observed that there no possibility of the handle 9 being swungupwardly, since the pawl is caused to release the lever :21 onlv afterthe link l-lhas been completely disconnected from the handle S).

t nder some conditions the load on the platform 13 is so close to or sooverhangs the skid stop 18 as to render it difficult or impossible forthe operator to reach the link 14 with his foot to pull it forwardlyinto engagement with the flange 12. To overcome this difficulty, I mayprovide the upper end of the pawl 25 with an upwardly and forwardlyprojecting treadle 29' so arthe link '14 forwardly, a lateral arm 30 maybe provided on the link to be engaged by the foot of the operator.

It will be observed that a truck con structed in accordance with theinvention permits the elevating platform to be raised upon the mainframe by oscillation of the handle, 9 in vertical planes and in any ofthe usual steering positions of the handle, for instance as indicated inFigure 3 of the drawings, where the handle is shown to swing in a planeat substantially right angles to the longitudinal median line of thetruck. Furthermore, the platform can be easily and quickly connected toand disconnected from the draft handle by mere swinging of the link 14.

While I have shown and described the invention as embodied in certaindetails of construction, it will be understood that this is primarilyfor the purpose of illustrating the invention and that manymodifications and changes may be made in said details without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, I do not desire tobe understood as limiting myself except as required by the followingclaims when construed in the light of the prior art.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. An elevating truck comprising a main frame mounted on wheels at itsrear end, a steering swivel carrying wheels journaled in the front endof said frame, a rotatable member movable vertically in substantiallythe line of axis of said steering swivel and having a horizontal coaxialarcuate flange, an elevating platform mounted on said frame for verticalmovement, means operatively connecting said flange of said member andsaid platform so that vertical movement of said member elevates saidplatform and said member may rotate independently of said connectingmeans, a handle pivot-ally mounted upon said swivel, and an operativeconnection between said handle and said member so that swinging of saidhandle in vertical planes in a'nyof the steering positions of saidhandle raises and lowers said member.

2. An elevating truck comprising a main frame mounted on wheels atitsrea r end, a steering swivel'carrying wheels ournaled in the frontend of said frame, a membertvertically movable in substantially the lineof axis of said steering swivel and having a horizontal coaxial arcuateflange, an elevatmg platform mounted on said frame for,

vertical movement, means operatively connecting said flange on saidmember and said platform so that the platform is elevated as said memberis raised and rotation of said member relatively to said means is permitted, a draft handle pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on saidsteering swivel, and a link pivotally connected to one end of saidhandle and to said member so that as the handle is swung downwardly saidmemher is raised and said platform is elevated and theplatform may beelevated with the handle in any steering position.

An elevating truck comprising a main frame mounted on wheels at its rearend, a steering swivel carrying wheels journaled in the front end ofsaid frame,- a member vertically movable in substantially the line ofaxis of said steering swivel, an elevating platform mounted on saidframe for vertical movement, a link pivotally connected at one end tosaid platform, the other end of said link and said vertically movablemember having cooperating portions to engage each other so that raisingof said member elevates said platform, said cooperating portions havinga relatively slidable engagement in the same horizontal plane of saidmember at any point in the vertical movement thereof so that said membermay rotate relatively to said link, a handle pivotally mounted upon saidswivel, and an operative connection between said handle and said memberso that swinging of said handle in vertical planes in any of thesteering positions of said handle raises and lowers said member.

.LAII elevating truck comprising a main frame mounted on wheels at itsrear end, a

steering swivel carrying wheels journaled in the front end of saidframe, a member vertically movable in substantially the line of axis ofsaid steering swivel and having a coaxial upwardly facing arcuaterecess, an elevating platform mounted on said frame for verticalmovement, means operatively connecting said platform and said movablemember including a hook arranged in said recess so that raising of saidmember elevates said platform and said member can rotate relatively tosaid connecting means, a handle pivotally mounted upon said swivel,

and an operative connection between said handle and said member so thatswinging of said handle in vertical planes in any of the steeringpositions of said handle raises and lowers said member.

An elevating truck comprising a main frame mounted on wheels at its rearend a king pin journal d in the front end of said frame and carryingwheels for steering the track. an elevating platform mounted on saidframe for vertical. movement, a sleeve vertically slidahle on said kingpin having an arenate flange provided with an upwardly facing arcuategroove, a link having one end pivotally connected to said platform andformed at its other end with a hook to enter said groove so that raisingof said sleeve will elevate said platform and said sleeve may rotaterelatively to said hook, a handle pivotally mounted intermediate itsends upon said king pin, and an operative eonneetion between said sleeveand said handle so that swinging of the handle in vertical planes raisesand lowers said sleeve.

6. An elevating trnek comprising a main frame mounted on wheels at itsrear end, a king pin jonrnaled in the front end of said frame andcarrying wheels for steering the truck, an elevating platform mounted onsaid frame for vertical movement a sleeve vertically slid-able on saidking pin having an arcaate flange provided with an n iwardly facingarcnate groove, a link having one end pivotally connected to saidplatform and formed at its other end with a hook to enter said groove sothat raising ol said sleeve will elevate said platform and said sleevemay rotate relatively to said hook, a handle pivotall mountedintermediate its ends upon said king pin, and a link connected to saidsleeve and said handle so that swinging of the handle in vertical planesraises and lowers said sleeve.

l-l ENRY S. GERMOIID, .la.

